France
How “Cru Bourgeois” Came Back From The Brink
Just over ten years ago, in 2007, the Cru Bourgeois ranking system was in tatters. The system brought in to give consumers a better view of the great and the good of the red wines of the Médoc (outside the 1855 classifications) was at breaking point. Legal battles, rumours of nepotism by ruling councils, and even …
Meeting the Brilliant Olivier Dauga
A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to get to host an evening with Olivier Dauga (consultant winemaker in France) at my new restaurant, La Ferme, in Primrose Hill. Before the great and the good of British bloggers and journalists descended, Olivier asked to borrow me for a quick video…needless to say I didn’t …
Top Wine Memories of 2017 – April
Finishing off this week’s round up of 2017 with April’s trip out to Bordeaux for the annual En Primeur tasting. Basically you all drive around different Chateau drinking young and unfinished wine and make up a load of guff about how amazing it’ll be in a few years. Honest to god, that’s roughly it. I …
Steady As She Goes Louis Jadot
Louis Jadot is a Burgundy wine behemoth. Producing wines in over a quarter of the region’s 600 appellations, they really are one of the biggest players in Eastern France’s long and winding wine heartland. Recently I met Fred Barnier, the man charged to continue the traditions of this 150 year old business, with a brief …
Bordeaux Winemakers – Axel & Chloe
I was recently in Bordeaux for a press trip courtesy of the Bordeaux Wines council. A great trip focusing on the great things that are happening in Bordeaux away from the Grand Cru Classés that everyone thinks is all Bordeaux is about. On that trip we headed up to Canon Fronsac, on Bordeaux’s right bank, …